infrahub.africa

Background

As part of the 10x10 housing project initiated by Design Indaba, ten teams of South African architects were paired with international designers to design attractive housing that fitted within the government housing subsidy and complied with building standards. The design by Luyanda Mpahlwa of MMA Architects was used in the construction of several houses in Freedom Park, a low income settlement situated on the white sands of the Cape Flats. These houses were given to local families who had previously been living in nearby shacks.

Approach

The house frame is constructed using ecobeams (made from timber and metal strips), and the walls are built from sand bags filled with abundant local sand. The sandbags are covered with chicken wire and then plastered over, utilizing indigenous building techniques that are well-suited to South Africa's hot climate and provide excellent thermal stability.

Environmental Impact

The use of sandbags instead of bricks almost eliminates the significant greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing and transporting baked clay or cement bricks to site. In addition, the sandbags provide excellent thermal insulation, which moderates indoor temperatures and reduces the need for energy-intensive heating or cooling.